👥 BBS – Behavior Based Safety

Build Safer Habits. Strengthen Safety Culture. Prevent Incidents.

The BBS – Behavior Based Safety Course is designed to help employees, supervisors, safety professionals, managers, and safety leaders understand how human behaviour, workplace conditions, and organisational culture influence safety performance.

The course focuses on observing work practices, identifying safe and at-risk behaviours, understanding the reasons behind behaviours, and encouraging positive safety actions. Through practical observation exercises, workplace scenarios, interactive discussions, and feedback techniques, participants learn how to build safer habits without creating a blame-oriented environment.

BBS is not about blaming workers for incidents. It is about understanding behaviour, improving conditions, strengthening communication, and creating a workplace where safe actions become the natural way of working.

👀 What You’ll Learn

🧠 Understand Safety Behaviour

Discover how habits, attitudes, work conditions, procedures, and organisational factors can influence workplace behaviour.

🔍 Observe Work Safely

Learn how to conduct structured safety observations without unnecessarily interrupting or blaming workers.

⚠️ Identify At-Risk Behaviours

Recognise behaviours that may increase the likelihood of incidents.

👍 Reinforce Safe Behaviour

Learn how positive feedback can encourage workers to continue safe practices.

💬 Give Effective Feedback

Develop practical communication techniques for discussing safety behaviours respectfully.

🔄 Create Lasting Change

Understand how repeated observation, feedback, and corrective action can support a stronger safety culture.

🛡️ Key Training Areas

Participants are introduced to:

• 👥 Behavior Based Safety fundamentals

• 🧠 Human behaviour and safety

• 🔍 Safety observation techniques

• 👍 Safe behaviours

• ⚠️ At-risk behaviours

• 💬 Positive safety feedback

• 🗣️ Safety conversations

• 🎯 Behavioural safety interventions

• 📋 Observation checklists

• 📊 Behavioural safety data

• 🔄 Corrective actions

• 🏭 Workplace safety culture

• 👷 Employee involvement

• 👨‍💼 Supervisor engagement

• 🧠 Human factors

• 📈 Safety performance improvement

• 🤝 Peer-to-peer safety

• 🔄 Continuous improvement

🔍 The BBS Approach

Observe → Understand → Discuss → Improve → Reinforce

Participants learn a practical approach to improving workplace behaviour:

01 — OBSERVE
Watch how work is actually being performed.

02 — IDENTIFY
Recognise safe and at-risk behaviours.

03 — UNDERSTAND
Explore why the behaviour is occurring.

04 — DISCUSS
Have a respectful safety conversation with the worker or team.

05 — IMPROVE
Agree on practical actions to remove barriers and strengthen safe behaviour.

06 — REINFORCE
Recognise and encourage positive safety practices.

07 — FOLLOW UP
Observe again and determine whether improvement has been sustained.

👍 Safe Behaviour

Make Safe Actions Visible

Examples of positive behaviours may include:

• 🦺 Correct PPE use

• 🔒 Following energy-isolation procedures

• 🪜 Using appropriate access equipment

• 🏗️ Maintaining three-point contact where applicable

• 🏋️ Using safe manual-handling techniques

• 🚧 Respecting barricades and exclusion zones

• 🔥 Following hot-work requirements

• 🧹 Maintaining good housekeeping

• 🚶 Using designated walkways

• 🗣️ Communicating hazards

• 📋 Following approved procedures

• 🔍 Performing required inspections

• 🚨 Reporting unsafe conditions

• 🤝 Supporting coworkers in safe practices

Recognise It. Reinforce It. Repeat It.

⚠️ At-Risk Behaviour

Understand Before You Correct

At-risk behaviours may include:

• ❌ Bypassing safety procedures

• 🦺 Incorrect PPE use

• 🚧 Entering restricted areas

• 🪜 Improper use of access equipment

• 🏋️ Unsafe lifting practices

• 🔧 Using equipment incorrectly

• ⚡ Working without required isolation

• 🔥 Ignoring hot-work controls

• 📱 Distraction while performing safety-critical work

• 🚶 Taking shortcuts

• 🧹 Poor housekeeping

• 🗣️ Failing to communicate hazards

The Goal Is Not to Blame the Person — It Is to Understand Why the Behaviour Happened and How to Make the Safe Choice Easier.

🧠 Why Do People Take Risks?

Behaviour Has Causes

Participants learn to look beyond the behaviour itself and consider factors such as:

⚙️ WORK DESIGN
Is the task unnecessarily difficult or awkward?

🛠️ EQUIPMENT
Is the correct equipment available and suitable?

📋 PROCEDURES
Are procedures practical, clear, and accessible?

🎓 TRAINING
Does the worker understand how to perform the task safely?

⏱️ TIME PRESSURE
Is production pressure influencing behaviour?

👥 SUPERVISION
Is appropriate guidance available?

🧠 KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Does the person understand the hazard?

🌡️ WORKING CONDITIONS
Are environmental conditions affecting performance?

🤝 TEAM CULTURE
What behaviours are accepted or encouraged by the team?

Change the Conditions That Influence Behaviour — Not Just the Behaviour Itself.

💬 Positive Safety Conversations

Talk About Safety Without Creating Defensiveness

Participants learn a simple communication approach:

👋 START RESPECTFULLY
Approach the worker professionally and respectfully.

↓

👀 DESCRIBE WHAT YOU OBSERVED
Focus on the specific behaviour rather than making assumptions.

↓

❓ ASK WHY
Understand what influenced the behaviour.

↓

🗣️ DISCUSS THE RISK
Explain the potential consequence where relevant.

↓

💡 AGREE ON A SAFER APPROACH
Discuss practical improvements.

↓

👍 RECOGNISE POSITIVE ACTIONS
Acknowledge safe behaviour and improvement.

Observe Without Judging. Discuss Without Blaming. Improve Together.

👥 Safety Observation

What You Observe Today Can Prevent Tomorrow’s Incident

A structured BBS observation may consider:

📋 BBS Observation Checklist

Look. Listen. Learn.

A practical observation may include:

🟢 SAFE
What was done correctly?

🟠 AT-RISK
What behaviour could result in harm?

🔍 WHY?
What influenced the behaviour?

🛠️ ACTION
What can be improved?

👍 RECOGNITION
What positive behaviour should be reinforced?

🔄 FOLLOW-UP
Has the behaviour improved?

🎯 ABC Model of Behaviour

Understand What Happens Before and After Behaviour

Participants are introduced to the simple ABC model:

A — ANTECEDENT

What happened before the behaviour?

Examples:

• Instructions

• Work conditions

• Time pressure

• Procedures

• Equipment availability

↓

B — BEHAVIOUR

What did the person actually do?

↓

C — CONSEQUENCE

What happened immediately after the behaviour?

Examples:

• Positive feedback

• Increased productivity

• Delay avoided

• Corrective intervention

• Recognition

Understanding the ABC Chain Helps Identify Opportunities for Positive Change.

🏭 BBS in Different Work Environments

BBS principles can be applied across:

🏭 Manufacturing
Machine operation, material handling, maintenance, and production activities.

🏗️ Construction
Work at height, scaffolding, lifting, excavation, and site movement.

⚙️ Engineering & Maintenance
Isolation, tools, machinery, electrical work, and maintenance activities.

📦 Warehousing & Logistics
Forklift operations, loading/unloading, stacking, pedestrian movement, and housekeeping.

🧪 Chemical Operations
Chemical handling, process operations, PPE, and emergency response.

🔥 Hot Work
Welding, cutting, grinding, ignition control, and fire prevention.

📊 BBS Data & Trend Analysis

Turn Observations Into Safety Intelligence

Participants learn how observation data can help identify trends such as:

• Frequently observed at-risk behaviours

• Repeated PPE issues

• Common procedural deviations

• Recurring housekeeping concerns

• High-risk work activities

• Training needs

• Equipment or workplace barriers

• Areas requiring additional supervision

• Positive behavioural improvements

Data Should Help Solve Problems — Not Become a Tool for Blaming Individuals.

📈 Leading Indicators

Measure the Actions That Prevent Incidents

BBS can support proactive indicators such as:

👀 Safety Observations
Number and quality of observations completed.

💬 Safety Conversations
Quality of interactions following observations.

👍 Positive Recognition
Safe behaviours recognised and reinforced.

🛠️ Corrective Actions
Identified barriers addressed.

🔄 Follow-Up
Improvements checked for sustainability.

📊 Behaviour Trends
Repeated patterns monitored over time.

🚫 BBS Is Not About Blame

Safety Is a System — Not Just an Individual’s Responsibility

An effective BBS programme should avoid:

• ❌ Blaming workers for every unsafe act

• ❌ Using observations only for punishment

• ❌ Ignoring unsafe workplace conditions

• ❌ Focusing only on PPE

• ❌ Treating observation numbers as the only measure of success

• ❌ Encouraging workers to hide mistakes or hazards

Instead, BBS should encourage:

• ✅ Open communication

• ✅ Positive reinforcement

• ✅ Worker involvement

• ✅ Hazard reporting

• ✅ Better work design

• ✅ Strong supervision

• ✅ Practical controls

• ✅ Continuous learning

🔄 Building a Positive Safety Culture

Culture Is Built Through Everyday Actions

👥 INVOLVE PEOPLE
Give employees a voice in safety improvement.

↓

👀 OBSERVE
Understand how work is actually performed.

↓

💬 COMMUNICATE
Create open and respectful safety conversations.

↓

🛠️ REMOVE BARRIERS
Fix workplace conditions that encourage unsafe behaviour.

↓

👍 RECOGNISE
Reinforce positive safety actions.

↓

📊 MEASURE
Track meaningful safety improvements.

↓

🔄 LEARN
Use lessons to improve the safety system.

🎯 Learning Outcomes

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of Behavior Based Safety.

• Explain how behaviour and workplace conditions influence safety.

• Identify safe and at-risk behaviours.

• Conduct structured safety observations.

• Use observation checklists effectively.

• Conduct positive safety conversations.

• Provide constructive feedback without blame.

• Understand the factors that influence workplace behaviour.

• Apply the basic ABC behaviour model.

• Recognise barriers that can contribute to unsafe behaviour.

• Encourage positive safety habits.

• Use BBS observations to identify trends.

• Support proactive safety improvement.

• Understand the importance of worker participation.

• Contribute to a positive and proactive safety culture.

👷 Who Can Attend?

This course is suitable for:

Safety Officers • HSE Professionals • Supervisors • Managers • Team Leaders • Engineers • Safety Committee Members • Workers • Contractors • Production Personnel • Maintenance Teams • HR & Training Professionals

🧠 Training Approach

Observe → Communicate → Understand → Improve → Reinforce

The course combines:

📚 Classroom Learning
Fundamentals of behavioural safety and safety culture.

👀 Observation Exercises
Practising identification of safe and at-risk behaviours.

💬 Safety Conversation Practice
Learning respectful and constructive feedback techniques.

🎭 Role-Play Scenarios
Handling real-world workplace behaviour situations.

📊 Data Exercises
Understanding behavioural trends and improvement opportunities.

🏭 Workplace Case Studies
Applying BBS principles to realistic industrial and workplace situations.

🔄 BBS Improvement Cycle

Small Behavioural Changes Can Create Big Safety Improvements

👀 01 — OBSERVE
Watch how work is performed.

↓

🔍 02 — IDENTIFY
Recognise safe and at-risk behaviours.

↓

🧠 03 — UNDERSTAND
Identify the factors influencing the behaviour.

↓

💬 04 — DISCUSS
Have a respectful safety conversation.

↓

🛠️ 05 — IMPROVE
Remove barriers and establish safer practices.

↓

👍 06 — REINFORCE
Recognise positive behaviour.

↓

📊 07 — MEASURE
Monitor trends and improvement.

↓

🔄 08 — REPEAT
Continue the cycle to strengthen safety culture.

🏆 Key Benefits

For Workers

Build stronger safety awareness and develop safer everyday habits.

For Supervisors

Improve safety conversations, observation skills, and positive reinforcement.

For Safety Professionals

Develop practical behavioural observation and safety-culture improvement skills.

For Managers

Strengthen employee engagement, accountability, and proactive safety leadership.

For Organisations

Create a more open safety culture, improve hazard reporting, strengthen safe behaviours, and support continuous safety improvement.

⭐ Why Behavior Based Safety Matters

Safety is influenced not only by rules and equipment, but also by the decisions people make every day.

A strong BBS approach helps organisations understand why behaviours occur, remove barriers to safe work, encourage positive habits, and create an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up about hazards.

Observe the Behaviour. Understand the Reason. Improve the System. Build the Culture.

👥 BBS – Behavior Based Safety

Safer Behaviours. Stronger Teams. Better Safety Culture.

Develop the practical skills required to observe workplace behaviour, provide constructive feedback, identify behavioural trends, and encourage lasting safety improvements.